Behringer UMX250 User Manual
ENGLISH
User Manual
U-CONTROL UMX250
The Ultimate Studio in a Box:
25-Key USB/MIDI Controller
Keyboard with USB/Audio
Interface, 100 Software
Instruments, 50 VST Effects,
energyXT2.5 Compact Music
Production Software and
NI KorePlayer Software
Sound Module
Thank you
Thank you for showing your condence in BEHRINGER
products by purchasing the UMX250. The UMX250 is an
extremely exible master keyboard with a controller unit that
can be used for a wide array of applications. Whether you need
independent control of computer rack synthesizers, general
MIDI sound modules or effects devices, or want to use the
UMX250 for conveniently operating sequencing software or
computer plugins — the UMX250 offers you tremendous
ease of use and allows you to realize your ideas intuitively.
Table of Contents
Thank you ..................................................................... 1
Important Safety Instructions ................................... 2
1. Before you get started ........................................... 3
2. Introduction to MIDI ............................................... 4
3. Control elements and connections ...................... 6
4. Operation ................................................................. 7
5. Specifications ........................................................12
6. Appendix ............................................................... 13
Warranty ..................................................................... 15
Legal Disclaimer ........................................................ 16
This manual is available in English, German, French,
Spanish, Italian, Russian, Polish, Dutch, Finnish, Swedish,
Danish, Portuguese, Greek, Japanese and Chinese. There may
also be more current versions of this document. Download them
by going to the appropriate product page at:
www.behringer.com
A50-A1I30-08001
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U-CONTROL UMX250 User Manual
2
Important Safety Instructions
*
To reduce the risk of electric shock, do not remove the top
cover (or the rear section). No user serviceable parts inside;
refer servicing to qualified personnel.
To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not expose
this appliance to rain and moisture. The apparatus shall not
be exposed to dripping or splashing liquids and no objects
filled with liquids, such as vases, shall be placed on the
apparatus.
*
This symbol, wherever it appears, alerts you to the presence
of uninsulated dangerous voltage inside the enclosure—
voltage that may be sufficient to constitute a risk of shock.
Caution
Caution
!
Caution
Caution
!
Read these instructions.
{1}.
Keep these instructions.
{2}.
Heed all warnings.
{3}.
Follow all instructions.
{4}.
Do not use this device near water.
{5}.
Clean only with a dry cloth.
{6}.
Be sure to mount your speakers on a solid, stable and level base or
{7}.
stand. Vibrating oors do not provide reliable support for speaker
enclosures or stacks.
Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat
{8}.
registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including ampliers) that
produce heat.
Only use attachments/accessories specied by the manufacturer.
{9}.
Use only with the cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or
[10].
table specied by the manufacturer, or sold with
the device. When a cart is used, use caution
when moving the cart/device combination to
avoid injury from stumbling over it.
Refer all servicing to qualied service personnel.
[11].
Servicing is required when the unit has been damaged in any way,
liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the device, the unit
has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or
has been dropped.
Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the
[12].
manufacturer’s instructions.
Caution
!
This symbol, wherever it appears, alerts you to important
operating and maintenance instructions in the accompanying literature. Please read the manual.
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U-CONTROL UMX250 User Manual
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U-CONTROL UMX250
USB Cable (included)
Before you get started1.
Shipment1.1
The U-CONTROL was carefully packed at the assembly plant
to assure secure transport. Should the condition of the
cardboard box suggest that damage may have taken place,
please inspect the unit immediately and look for physical
indications of damage.
Damaged equipment should NEVER be sent directly to us.
◊
Please inform the dealer from whom you acquired the unit
immediately as well as the transportation company from
which you took delivery of the unit. Otherwise, all claims
for replacement/repair may be rendered invalid.
To assure optimal protection of your UMX250 during
◊
transport, we recommend utilizing a carrying case.
Please always use the original packaging to avoid damage
◊
due to storage or shipping.
Never let unsupervised children play with the device or
◊
with its packaging.
Please dispose of all packaging materials in an
◊
environment-friendly fashion.
Initial operation and power supply1.2
Please make sure that the unit is provided with sufcient ventilation, and never place the UMX250 on top of an amplier or in
the vicinity of a heater to avoid the risk of overheating.
The power supply can be realized in different ways depending on
the main application area. For the installation of the UMX250 in
a studio environment, it is possible to connect the device directly
to a free USB port of the computer using the USB cable provided
(see Fig. 1.1).
In case it is not possible to establish the power supply over
USB (e.g. because of an overload of the host computer due to
several USB devices connected), it is also possible to operate the
UMX250 with three 1.5-Volt batteries (type “AA”, see Fig.1.2).
Figure 1.2: The battery compartment on the bottom side of the UMX250
Open the battery compartment by pressing the shutter clamp
carefully in the direction of the battery compartment, while
pulling the cover of the compartment upwards.
Please note the following points when inserting the batteries:
The +symbol of the batteries must coincide with the •
+symbol of the compartment! Incorrect polarity will damage
the electronics!
Do not mix old and new batteries! When you change the •
batteries, always change all 3 batteries at the same time.
Do not use damaged batteries. The UMX250 could be •
damaged due to the leakage of chemicals.
If you do not use the unit for an extended period of time, •
please remove the batteries from the compartment. Here
again, the batteries could leak and damage the device.
After inserting the batteries, please close the battery compartment and make sure the shutter clamp snaps into place again.
If you do neither want to connect the power supply over USB nor
operate the unit with batteries, there is yet another possibility
to connect the UMX250 over an external power pack. Please
observe the correct operational data (DC 9 V; 100 mA) and
correct polarity of the connector plug; you will nd information
about this above the DC input on the rear of the unit. Reverse
polarity can damage the electronics.
Fig. 1.1: Power supply via USB
Online registration1.3
Please remember to register your new BEHRINGER equipment
right after your purchase by visiting www.behringer.com (alter-
natively www.behringer.de) and read the terms and conditions
of our warranty carefully.
Should your BEHRINGER product malfunction, our goal is to
have it repaired as quickly as possible. To arrange for warranty
service, please contact the retailer from whom the equipment
was purchased. Should your BEHRINGER dealer not be
located in your vicinity, you may directly contact one of our
subsidiaries. Corresponding contact information is included in
the original equipment packaging (Global Contact Information/
European Contact Information). Should your country not be
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U-CONTROL UMX250 User Manual
4
listed, please contact the distributor nearest to you. A list of
distributors can be found in the support area of our website
(www.behringer.com).
Registering your purchase and equipment with us helps us
process your repair claims quicker and more efciently.
Thank you for your cooperation!
System requirements1.4
For USB operation, a current WINDOWS PC or MAC with a
USB connection is sufcient. Both USB 1.1 and USB 2.0 are
supported.
The UMX250 supports the USB MIDI compatibility of
◊
WINDOWS XP, Vista and MAC OS X operating systems.
The UMX250 can also be operated as a stand-alone MIDI
◊
controller with no PC connected. Software control via
MIDI is also possible, provided your computer has a MIDI
interface.
Introduction to MIDI2.
Here are a couple of suggestions on how you can use your
UMX250:
Editing sound parameters of (virtual) synthesizers, sound
◊
samplers, GM/GS/XG sound generators.
Controlling parameters on effects equipment/software
◊
plug-ins such as effects processors, reverbs, compressors,
equalizers.
Remotely controlling software mixers (volume, panorama,
◊
mute functions, etc.).
Remotely controlling transport functions (playback,
◊
forward, stop, etc.) on sequencers, hard disk recorders,
drum computers, etc.
Live control of volume and sound parameters on expanders
◊
Remotely controlling groove boxes, step sequencers, MIDI-
◊
generators and other “live” software
Program changes and volume control on sound generators
◊
(just like on a master keyboard)
Can be used by band keyboardists, solo entertainers,
◊
organists, electronic music performers, DJs, sound engi-
neers, home/project studio owners, theater technicians, etc.
MIDI control for beginners2.1
Application possibilities for the UMX models are truly wideranging. We’ll start with a couple of general explanations and
examples that should quickly let you get a good understanding
of MIDI basics.
The denition of the MIDI standard began in 1982 with the
cooperation of various international companies (MIDI: Musical
Instrument Digital Interface). At that time, musicians were
looking for a possibility of managing the communication
of electronic musical instruments of different makes with
one another.
What exactly does the UMX250 do?
Simply put, this is a remote control for all kinds of MIDI equipment. Using the faders, rotary knobs and buttons, the foot pedal
and the keyboard, an entire array of control instructions can be
generated, which in turn can control the most diverse functions
of external devices.
What kinds of equipment can I control with the UMX250?
You can basically control any device supporting the MIDI
format. Both hardware and software MIDI devices are controlled
in exactly the same way. The only difference is in the wiring.
And how does it work?
Remote control is realized by assigning the individual control
elements of the UMX250 to individual MIDI parameters.
Whenever one of these control elements is operated, the
UMX250 generates the control data assigned to this control
element, which are then transferred to external devices over
a data link. Thus, for example, the VOLUME/DATA fader
is factory-set to send data controlling the volume level of a
channel.
The data connection is usually a standard MIDI cable with a
5-pin DIN plug on each end. Such cables should not exceed a
length of 15 meters. With the UMX250 there is one more data
connection available: the USB cable to the host computer. Here,
the cable should not exceed a length of 5 meters.
The data transmission takes place over 16 channels.
The control data generated by the individual control elements
are also called MIDI messages, which can be divided into
3 major groups:
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U-CONTROL UMX250 User Manual
5
Sound-Module
MIDI
(intern)
IN
OUT
USB
(intern)
Channel Messages:
◊
is transmitted. An example of a channel message is the note-on
instruction. As soon as a key is played on the keyboard of the
UMX250, the device generates an instruction which contains the
pitch, channel number and velocity. The receiving sound generator
“knows” which tone has to be played.
System Messages:
◊
relate to the entire system to which they are sent. They are divided
into 3 groups: System Exclusive Messages (for operating system
backup, updates, management of memory contents); System RealTime Messages (e.g. for remote control of other devices); System
Common Messages (e.g. for the synchronization of several devices).
Control Messages:
◊
Controllers, abbreviated as “CC… (Control Change)”. There are
128 controllers in total, which are numbered from 0 to 127.
Controllers are always channel-specic.
Please refer to Table 6.1 to nd out which type of controller •
Here, channel-specic control information
These messages are not channel-specic but
Also known as Control Changes or
When the UMX250 is linked via USB to a computer, the
signalow is as shown below (Fig. 2.1).
After the UMX250 has been connected to the host computer,
a virtual MIDI IN and MIDI OUT interface is emulated.MIDI
data generated in the UMX250 are rst sent over the USB
interface to the host computer, where they are received at the
emulated MIDI IN. A sequencer software running on the host
computer receives the MIDI data via the MIDI IN and relays
them to the emulated MIDI OUT—if all sequencer parameters
are set properly. The data are then sent back to the UMX250 via
the USB interfaces on the computer/UMX250, where they are
looped through to the physical MIDI OUT
MIDI data are sent to the devices connected to the MIDI OUT.
The MIDI OUT connector
interface, independently of the sequencer software operating
the UMX250.
you are currently working with.
MIDI data are only control data and contain no audible •
audio information! The data transmission takes place over
16 channels.
USB mode2.2.1
(14)
. From here, the
(14)
can also be used as a normal MIDI
What settings do I have to make? Where? How?
Basically, which control element generates which controller
must be set on the UMX250, and how incoming controller commands should be interpreted must be set on the receiving device.
Regarding controller assignment, there are two possible
principles:
You◊ use the preset controller conguration set in the factory (see
Fig. 3.1,
(10)
). In this case, you only need to make the assignments
on the receiving device.
You use your own controller conguration set up in ASSIGN mode.
◊
How to assign controllers to the UMX250 is described in Chapter 4
“OPERATION”.
USB mode and stand-alone 2.2
Fig. 2.1: Block diagram of MIDI signal ow
operation
The UMX250 can be operated as a USB interface or stand-alone
device. The two modes are different with respect to the MIDI
signal ow.
Stand-alone operation2.2.2
When the UMX250 is not linked via USB to a computer, it is
automatically set to stand-alone mode. In this case, the UMX250
can only send out MIDI data from its MIDI OUT connector.
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U-CONTROL UMX250 User Manual
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Control elements and connections3.
Fig. 3.1: Top view
The following factory settings refer to GLOBAL MIDI channel 1.
The keyboard of the UMX250: 25 large, velocity-sensitive keys for
{1}.
maximum playing comfort. The keyboard not only provides for
playing, but also functions as an encoder in the context of the
assignment procedure.
The MODULATION wheel functions ex works as a conventional
{2}.
modulation wheel (MIDI CC 1). In ASSIGN mode, any MIDI controller can be assigned to it. When you release the MODULATION
wheel, it retains its adjusted value.
The PITCH BEND wheel is normally used to change the pitch in
{3}.
real time. In this way, a sound can be “bent” upwards/downwards
by several semitones while playing. The specic amount of pitch
bending applied to a sound can be set on the device controlled by
the UMX250.
Ex works, the VOLUME/DATA fader controls the volume of the
{4}.
notes played on the keyboard (MIDI CC 7). In ASSIGN mode, it can
be set to control any MIDI controller.
The ASSIGN button allows you to assign different functions to the
{5}.
various control elements.
The basic principle is always the same:
Press the ASSIGN button and keep it pressed. The status 1)
LED above the button lights up. The UMX250 signals that
it has entered ASSIGN mode.
Select the control element to which you would like to 2)
assign a new MIDI function by operating it.
Release the ASSIGN button.3)
Depending on the choice you made, you may have to 4)
dene an additional value range (see below for more
details).
Press the ENTER button on the keyboard to conrm your 5)
assignments. To discard your assignments either press the
CANCEL button or the ASSIGN button again. In either
case, the ASSIGN LED goes out and the UMX250 quits
ASSIGN mode.
The USER MEMORY button is used to recall the internal memory.
{6}.
The internal memory contains all assignment information set in
ASSIGN mode. Any changes that were made after USER MEMORY
selection are automatically saved without further user prompts. The
USER MEMORY is retained even after the unit is switched off.
The two OCTAVE SHIFT buttons are preset to shift the keyboard
{7}.
range by several octaves up or down. The associated LEDs help you
identify the current octave setting (see Table 3.1). Since the
OCTAVE SHIFT buttons can also be assigned to any MIDI
controller, we would like to refer you to Chapters 4.2.8 and 4.2.9 for
detailed information.
The eight high-resolution rotary controls R1 – R8 generate
{8}.
continuous controller information. They are the controllers that are
shown above the buttons in the table
assigned to any controller in ASSIGN mode.
(10)
. All rotary controllers can be
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